Local Authority Partnership, Engagement and Delivery (LA-PED) Division sits within CMPD and is responsible for overseeing Billions of pounds worth of DWP expenditure on a range of local authority (LA) welfare services, especially Housing Benefit (HB). We work in a highly collaborative way, using a variety of tools and techniques to keep the team and our stakeholders on the same page. Continuous improvement is built into our working practices, seeking out and acting on feedback from users and colleagues continuously. The Fraud Error and Debt, and Change & Comms Team sits within the division and ensures the safe and effective delivery of LA services. We ensure any new DWP policy/process takes account of HB delivery and any LA data sharing processes. We are the Gateway to manage all communication between DWP and LAs for all HB related communications, including published stats briefing. DWP has a statutory obligation to consult representatives of local government on changes to Housing Benefit (HB) regulations. The team lead the management of this LA governance and manage the relationship with Scottish Government colleagues supporting devolution activity The team are responsible for providing support and challenge to Fraud Error and Debt Strategy & Programme and provide oversight of HB. We source data and insights from across DWP to understand the drivers behind FED. The successful candidates can expect to lead/contribute to the following: Attend working groups of LAs to co-design work in capturing user needs and test design options with them along with guidance and other communications to support successful implementation nationally. Deliver new and enhance existing products and services, including maintaining and enhancing our working practices and behaviours. Work with Devolved administrations as appropriate to ensure any Devolved benefits changes are fully impacted against LA processes for the administration of Housing Benefit. Communicate to a high standard with all LAs and their representative bodies, in writing, face-to-face and virtually through a variety of mediums. Update project milestones, risk logs and other project documentation in collaboration with the various project managers in the team. Provide appropriate clearance of products within the agreed sign-off process. Person specification Essential Criteria: Established experience of working in a product or project environment, proactively implementing and leading change through to successful delivery. Proven experience of working with Policy colleagues on the delivery of ministerial / policy initiatives, including local welfare delivery and reform. Proven record of working flexibly to successfully deliver, high quality outcomes, at pace, whilst meeting customer requirements. Desirable Criteria In-depth knowledge on how Housing Benefit is currently delivered. Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Demonstrable engagement and influencing skills with a strong focus on building collaborative working relationships with both colleagues and wide range of stakeholders to drive work forward and achieve results. Benefits Alongside your salary of 37,497, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 10,862 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes: Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. Generous annual leave at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave. Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme. Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 years continuous service. Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes. An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. We recognise that AI may be helpful when applying for this role, but it is important to use it in the right way. Read the DWP AI Candidate Guide, Civil Service Careers to understand how you can make the best use of GenAI while ensuring your application remains authentic and effective. Applicants will be asked to provide the following throughout their written application: 250 words Technical statement on your ' Demonstrable engagement and influencing skills with a strong focus on building collaborative working relationships with both colleagues and wide range of stakeholders to drive work forward and achieve results'. 500 words Personal Statement against the Essential criteria as outlined in the Person Specification. You will also be asked to provide a short CV listing your skills and experience. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Your CV will only be considered for applications that progress to job offer and will assist the vacancy holders in matching skills to suitable opportunities/locations. It will not form part of the sifting process or be scored. Sift: An initial sift will be conducted using the information applicants provide against the technical criteria outlined on the technical template (250 words) supplied in the application process. Applicants who do not meet the minimum standard at this stage will not have their personal statement assessed. Applicants who reach the minimum standard on the initial sift will be progressed to full sift. If successful at the initial sift stage, a full sift will be conducted using the information applicants provide in line with the key criteria within the person specification section of this advert, using the information applicants provide on the Personal statement template supplied in the application process. Sift is due to commence 1st September 2025. Interview: Applicants meeting the agreed minimum standard will be interviewed using the blended approach testing both Experience & Strengths. Interviews will be conducted either face-to-face or virtually (confirmation of interview method will be confirmed closer to the time) Applicants invited to interview, will be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation at the start of your interview. Details of the presentation and what is required will be supplied as part of the invite to interview. Applicants should be aware that further questions relating to your experience may be asked following your presentation. Interview dates are scheduled between 22/9/25 - 3/10/25. Please note these dates are approximate and may change. Postings: Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards You will be asked for your preferences for up to 2 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location. Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here. Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held. Some travel may be required in line with role/business demand. A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. Further Information Find out more about Working for DWP Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk. Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. For AA/AO roles Please note that these vacancies are not currently eligible for Visa Sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route, even if relying on tradeable points (including the new entrant tradeable points option) as they are not included in the published Immigration Salary List. This information is offered as guidance only, and we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role. For EO roles Please note that these vacancies are not currently eligible for new applications for Visa Sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route, for any candidates who do not currently have permission to be in the UK as a Skilled Worker where they were sponsored before 4 April 2024, even if relying on tradeable points (including the new entrant tradeable points option) as they are not included in the published Immigration Salary List. This information is offered as guidance only, and we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role. For any other roles For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed. The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action. Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Reasonable Adjustment At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the Reasonable Adjustments section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Laura Jones Email : fg.cmpdresourcingandrecruitment@DWP.GOV.UK Recruitment team Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission. Attachments Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (docx, 24kB) Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview-Accessble-Version Opens in new window (docx, 69kB)